Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-26
PRISON DISCIPLINE.

The " Bean Table," the "Bun Beef,s
Promotion, the ''AIutton-chop" Climax.
To those who are unacquainted with the
methods Of prison discipline visit to the
branch prison at Folsom is full of interest.
To see the 600 prisoners at work in and
around those quarries, one wonders by
what means men who are convicted of all
the crimes known to our laws behave so
excellently and work with degree of in
dustry that would be creditable to any walk
of life. Six hundred men, unmanaeled.
unclaimed, outside Of the prison walls, with
nothing to indicate that they were prisoners
except their striped felons' suits. working
away with a will, performing an honest
days labor and apparently proud of the re-
suit of their toll, is q sight TO the visitor
totally unexpected. Men who never in
free state did an honest days work-for-
gers, burglars, highwaymen, murderers-
vie with each other to see who can do the
most, and strive 10, and do accomplish as
good work as that turned out by free skilled
labor These men are of all ages, from a
youth of 16 to men bowed down by three
score years and ten; men whose sentences
range from to 80 years, while others have
been sentenced for life. What is still more
called, are said to be the most contented
and best workers, and the Mexican and In
dian, who in free state
ARE LAZY, INDoLENr AND AvERsE TO LABOR
OF any kind. are the most reliable and in
dustrious. The secret of all this is the
fact that the quality and service Of their
food, and the limited privileges they enjoy,
are dependent upon their behavior and the
amount and quality of the labor they per-
form. The eating department of the
prison is divided into three grades, and is
designated by the prisoners as the bean
table, y" bull beef" and mutton chop"
The dining room for the bean table" is
fitted up with tables consisting of a single
board about ten inches wide, upon which,
about every three feet, is securely nailed a
tin dish containing pepper and salt. The
beans and other rough food are served
on tin plates, and knives and forks are not
provided. The food is wholesome, but it
must be eaten in the most primitive style,
and the prisoners are not allowed to speak
to one another during meal time. All new
prisoners are placed at the "bean table"
and it is not until their excellent conduct
and industry commends them to the man
agement that they are
PROMOTED TO THE BULL BEEF TABLE,
Here the fare is more Yarled, the prison.
ers are seated at tables, furnished with
wholesome beef, vegetables, etc. This is
quite a step in advance ofthe bean table"
and many prisoners never get beyond it.
The mutton-chop table, is the hight of
the prisoners ambition. Here he is seated
at regular dining-table; he has a full
compliment of dishes-though all are of
tin-he has knife and fork the table is
furnished with castors; he has mutton
stew, stewed beef, meats in variety, veget-
ables in season, and is allowed to converse
freely with his fellows. 1t is distinction
he is proud of, one that he has worked
hard to obtain, and one that he will main
tain, no matter how hard the struggle.
The prisoners are treated kindly; the
mutton-ehop" men are shown great con-
sideration by the officers and from this
class little or no trouble is ever experienced,
for an infraction of the rules sends them to
the bean-table,n from which they find it
difficult to again obtain what they have
lost